GOP hopefuls in 1st CD take part in Granite State Debate

Guinta, Innis, Kelly debate

For the two Republican challengers sharing the debate stage with former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, it is time for a Hail Mary pass. The clock is ticking, they are behind and the debate tonight is their final chance to make anything happen.

In two different internal polls in recent weeks, Guinta has something around a 50 point lead over Dan Innis and Brendan Kelly ahead of the Sept. 9 primary. Those polls did come before an onslaught of a $700,000 in television and radio ads aired by two super PACs, which support Innis. Guinta had his own smaller television advertising buy that began last week. Neither Innis nor Kelly have aired any of their own ads.

When looking at the 1st Congressional District primary it is important not to overlook the point that Guinta has won the past two nominations. Because of this he began this contest with huge advantages: he had a network of supporters and donors. He is also the only Republican candidate in this race with any kind of name recognition, even if he isn’t all that well liked.

The chief complaint from Innis all year that Guinta is a career politician and his partisanship is what’s wrong with Washington. It is true that Guinta is running for the fifth time in nine years. What is less clear is whether the Republican base cares about this more than they care about the fact Innis is in a gay marriage, is pro-choice, and voted in the last Democratic Primary.

During the debate Innis needs to move the debate away from being defensive on those issues and keep on the offensive on Guinta. He must give a reason for Republicans to move off of their default position to just go with Guinta.

Meet the 2014 candidates in 1st Congressional District

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Republican Frank Guinta is challenging Rep. Carol Shea-Porter in the general election.